Grain-car door



Patentedut. la, |898.

D. o o .L B E u Dn Tl L. S. 4 4, D 6 N GRAIN CAR DOOR.

(Application led Ot. 1,

(No Model.)

van Norms wzrrmscc.. Horam-nm.. wAsNmarnN. u. c

t TATES Afrnr rrrcn.

GRAIN-CAR DOOR.

SPECIFICATION fOIming pari) Of Letters Patent N0. 612,445, dated OCObef18, 1898i. Application iiled October l, 1897. Serial No. 653,700. (NlllOSL) T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. TRUEBLOOD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county ofHenrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Grain-Car Doors; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in grain-doors forfreight-cars, and also embodies a grain spout or hopper for such doors.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and inarrangements and in combinations of parts, as more fullyY ner side ofthe grain-door, the subdoor orl valve therein shown in its closedposition. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the detachabledischarge-hopper, looking at the inner side thereof.

In the drawings, a is a freight or other car adapted for thetransport-ation of grain and of any suitable or desirable construction,with the large opening h for receiving and discharging freight, asliding door (not shown in the drawings) being usually provided at theouter sideof the car for closing `such opening. c is the grain-doorarranged to par` tially close said opening b and to leave ample room atthe top of the door for the entrance of the grain-discharge spouts usedin loading the car. This door is preferably constructed of planking orother suitable material and is rectangular in shape and wider than theopening b, so as to extend across the same,

with its ends beyond the opening engaging the inner faces of the carsides, as clearly shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l, whereby thepressure of the grain on the door is sustained by the car sides and inno measure by the means employed to guide the door during its elevation.Y

c c' are metal loops or eyes projecting outwardly from the upperportions or ends of the end edges of the door and each with its openingarranged vertically to receive the metal guide and supporting-rod d.These rods d d are arranged vertically at theminner sides of the car andon opposite sides of the opening b in the car and are strongly securedat their opposite ends to the car, so that their intermediate portionsare arranged a distance from the car side. The rods extend up to a pointnear the roof of the car, and at that point each rod is formed with theoutward and upward deflection d', with the portion of the rod at theupper side of the deflection eX- tending inwardly to the car side to thesecuring-point and depressed or deflected downwardly to form theinwardly-inclined seat d. It will thus be noted that the grain-door isarranged between these two rods, which are located at the end edges ofthe door, and that each rod is embraced by one of the eyes or loops c.The rods hold the door against edgewise movement incident to the jar andvibration and shock of the car, while the eyes hold the door in itsvertical movement and against falling inward when there is no grain inthe car. When it is desired to elevate the door from the opening b, asis usual in operating such devices, the door is moved up by the operatorbetween the rods CZ d, and when it reaches the upper ends of the rodsits lower end is swung inwardly and upwardly approximately to thehorizontal-position, and ahook e, depending from the roof of the car, isplaced within the opening f in the laterally-bent end of themetal barf', secured on the door. As the door assumes this position the metaleyes c move out into the deflections d of the rods and then inwardlyonto the vportions d of said rods, with the outer side of each eyeresting down in the said depression d", which by reason of its inwardinclination holds the end of the door constantly against the innersurface of the car side and tends to lock and IOO hold the door in itselevated position against extensive play or movement.

The grain-door is preferably provided at its inner surface with thevertical metal strips or bars c" c at the ends of the door and with thecentral or intermediate vertical metal bar f extending approximatelyfrom the top to the bottom of the door and having its lower end turnedoutwardly and perforated at f, as before described and as more fullyshown in Fig. 2.

At or near its lower end the grain-door is formed with a horizontallyelongated discharge-openin g c3, comparatively narrow vertically andextending approximately the full width of the door, although theinvention is not limited to these exact proportions. Anoutwardly-swingin g valve or subdoor gis provided to control the outflowof grain through said discharge-opening, and this valve is at its upperend hinged to the grain-door above the discharge-opening, while thelower edge of the valve is preferably beveled to engage the beveled edgeof the grain-door to prevent the valve sticking or jamming when closed,although the inward movement of the valve can also be limited by thevertical bars c and f at the inner side of the grain-door.

Suitable devices are provided to lock the valve in its closed positionand also to limit and control the outward swing thereof, and therebycontrol and vary the outliow of grain through the discharge-opening.Such means or device can consist of a bolt h, having a` squared portionnear its head and located in vertical adjustment in a vertical slot f"in the bar f', with the head of the bolt at the inner side of the barand the threaded end of the bolt extending outwardly. A vertical slot c4is formed in the swinging valve to receive the threaded end of saidbolt, which when the valve is closed projects outwardly through saidslot in the valve and receives a thumb-nut h at the outer side of thevalve to hold the valve closed. By forming the bolt of sufficient lengthto project outwardly a suitable distance beyond the valve when closedthe valve can be permitted to open various distances by unscrewing thenut partially, the vertical slot in the valve allowing for the arc inwhich the valve swings, which can also be allowed for by moving the boltin the slot f in the bar f. To permit a still greater opening of thevalve, a small chain i can be attached to the end of the bolt and passedthrough the nut with a ring at its outer end at the outer side of and ofgreater diameter than the internal diameter of the bore of the nut,which thereby limits the outward swing of the valve when the nut is:released from the bolt, as shown in Fig. 2. j is a detachable hopper,which can be applied to the car to receive the grain discharged throughthe said dischargeopening, so that said grain can be easily and quicklybagged and its flow controlled below the said valve. Said hopper ispreferably formed of sheet metal, with an open top, usually formedrectangular to lit snugly within the opening b of the car outside of andat the lower end of the grain-door. The inner side of said upperportion'of the hopper is open, and the ends thereof at said open sideare formed to fit snugly within the side frames of the car-opening b andpreferably to extend to and abut against the outer face of thegrain-door, and at their lower portions said ends are notched orrecessed at j to receive the projecting edge of the car-floor. Beneathsaid notches an outturned tlangej" is provided to fit beneath the saidprojecting edge of the car-door. From said enlarged open upper end thehopper tapers downwardly to a spout 73, of' a proper size to receive andenter the upper open end of a bag. Said spout is preferably providedwith exterior hooks jt, on which to hang the bag, and at a point abovesaid hooks with a sliding cut-off j5, extending to and operative fromthe exterior of the spout, so that the operator can en tirely close thespout or regulate the iiow of grain through the same.

The upper open end of the hopper can be provided with suitable means fordetachably securing the same to the car-such, for instance, as swinginghooks jf, pivoted at the inner side of the front of the hopper andarranged to catch in suitable eyes 7o on the grain-door. These hooksserve merely to hold the hopper upright and from sliding off thecar-floor while the weight of the hopper and its contents are carried bythe car-floor where the hopper fits on the same. These hoppers areusually formed to fit any grain-car irre- IOO spective of the grain-dooremployed, but are v particularly advantageous when employed incombination with the herein-described graindoor, which, however, can beemployed without this hopper.

By employing the grain-door herein described the grain in the car behindthe door and exerting a tremendous outward pressure thereon can beremoved in regulated quantities through the discharge opening andwithout attempting to raise or otherwise move the grain-door itself withthe great pressure of the grain against it. The grain can be dischargedwithout employing the hopper directly into a conveyer beside the car, orthe hopper can be employed and the grain bagged therefrom until thegrain behind the door is discharged, so that the door can be easilyraised without injury thereto and a space be formed for the men to enterthe car.

To those skilled in the art the many practical advantages of providing adischargeopening at the bottom of a grain-door with a controlling-valvewill be readily appreciated. iV aste of the grain is thereby avoided andthe grain is so under control that it can be readily handled anddisposed of as discharged.

The grain-doors ordinarily employed in shipping-grain in freight-carsare solid, and hence great force and power is needed to raise IIO thesedoors with the pressure of the grain in a fully-loaded car against thedoor. The useful life of such doors is very short, usually only aboutfrom one to iive months, before the doors are so broken and injured asto be useless because of the implements, blows, and force required toraise the doors to permit outflow of the grain behind them, and of thebulging out thereof because of such great weight and outward pressure ofthe grain. By means of my improvement the great body of grain behind thedoor can be gradually discharged in a perfectly-controlled stream ofjust the volume desired and capable of being cared for and not beyondthe capacity of the conveyer or receptacle into which it is beingdischarged. vWhen all the grain behind the door has thus been dischargedin a' stream of the desired volume through the long narrow opening atthe lower end of the door, the door can be easily moved up without wear,tear, or blows and secured at the top of the car.

Vihen grain-doors ordinarily employed are raised even slightly, or whena small or square opening with a swinging door be suddenly released, thegrain, because of the pressure, will be discharged out with such forceand in such volume as to be entirely beyond the capacity of theconveyers and beyond the control of the operators, hence resulting inspilling and waste of and damage to the grain by piling up in the yardor on the ground. By employing a narrow opening approximately the fullwidth of the door and at the bottom or lower end thereof I am enabled todischarge all the grain behind the door, and hence relieve pressureagainst the door and permit raising thereof easily, and by employing avalve or auxiliary door for said opening, with means whereby the samecan be gradually opened and held at the desired angle, the flow of grainis entirely under control and its volume can be easily regulated, so asnot to be beyond the capacity of the conveyer or power of the operatorsto remove. Furthermore, advantages are attained by employing rotating orscrewing means for gradually vopening said valve, for otherwise thegreat pressure thereon would necessitate destructive force and blows torelease the fastening means thereof, if such solely depended on mereswinging latches or sliding outside retaining means. As thegrain-door islocated behind the sliding car-door when sealed, and

-a comparatively narrow space only intervenes between the car and graindoors, the fastening and regulating means I employ for said valve orauxiliary door is such as to take up little space without projectingmaterially beyond the said auxiliary door when closed.

I do not limit my invention to the peculiar means for guiding andconfining the graindoor in its vertical movements, nor, where a hopperis employed, do I wish to limit myself to employing a lip or flange tolit beneath the car-floor, as such lip or flange can be otherwiselocated.

The hoppers are usually kept in the yards or by merchants and areapplied to the cars as they are to be unloaded to catch and control theoutliow of grain from behind the grain-doors and permit easy bagging andhandling thereof without waste or spilling. When the grain is removedfrom the doors so that the doors can be raised, the hoppers are removed.

Buttons Z t can be provided at the outer side of the grain-door to swingover the corners of the valve when closed to prevent bulging of the sameat such points under the outward pressure of the grain within the car.

It is evident that various changes might be made in the forms,constructions, and arrangements of the parts described without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limitmyself to the construction disclosed, but consider myself entitled toall such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A vertically-movable grain-door for cars having thedischarge-opening,provided with a controlling-valve havingscrew-regulating means passing loosely therethrough, substantially asdescribed.

2. A grain-door for cars having the elongated discharge-opening at itslower portion, a support across the same, a controllingswinging valvetherefor, and adj ustable regulating means extending fromsaid supportthrough the valve, substantially as described.

3. A grain-door for cars having the discharge-opening, a supportextending across the same, an outwardly-swinging valve for said opening,said support and valve formed with vertical slots, anoutwardly-extending bolt in the support-slot and arranged to extend intothe valve-slot, a nut for the outer end of the bolt to control or lockthe valve, and a loose connection between the nut and bolt,substantially as described.

4. A grain-door for cars having the discharge-opening,a supportextending centrally across thesame at the inner side of the door, avalvefor said opening at its upper edge hinged to the door to swingoutwardly, locking and regulating means from the support through thevalve, and corner-locking means for the valve at the outer side of thedoor, substantially as described.

5. A grain-car door having a bottom initial discharge-opening, anauxiliary outwardlyswinging door hinged to said grain-car door tonormally close the opening,`and adjustable regulating means normallylocking the auxiliary door closed and arranged to regulate the openingangle thereof, `said means provided with a loose stop section orconnection arranged to extend and permit continued outward swing of saiddoor, and to drop at IOO IIO

-the exterior of the door when said auxiliary door is locked by saidregulating means, substantially as described.

6 A vertically-movable grain-car door having the narrow initial bottomdischarge-opening extending approximately the full width of the door,the outwardly-swinging auxiliary door to close said opening andpivotally fixed at its upper edge to the grain-door, brace-locks orfastenings for the end portions of said auxiliary door, and a stopmechanism from the grain-door at about the central or anintermediateportion of the auxiliary door to permit, and to limit or control, theoutward swing thereof and prevent too great an outrush of grain at theinitial discharge, substantially as described.

7. In a car having the outside main door, the combination of avertically-movable inside grain-door having the narrow initialdischarge-opening at its lower portion extending approximately the fullwidth of `the door, whereby the grain in the car behind the graindoorcan be initially discharged and the pressure against the same relieved,an outwardlyswinging auxiliarydoor to normally close said opening andhinged-at its upper portion to said grain-door against verticalreciprocation independent of the grain-door, fastening or locking meansbetween the grain-door and the auxiliary door, and loose stop mechanismbetween t-he grain door and the auxiliary door to permit outward swingand limit the opening angle of the auxiliary door, and to hang besidesaid door when closed.

8. A grain-car discharge-hopper formed to hang vertically from the edgeof the car-iioor at the car-opening, said hopper having the large bodywith sides or ends arranged to project into or iit in the car-opening,the side of the hopper open between said ends and to the car-floor, andhooks secured to the body of the hopper and arranged to extend inwardlyacross the hopper to the car-door.

9. A car having an opening, in combination with a detachable hopperfitting in said opening with an open side at the same, said hoppernotched to fit and receive the edge of the car-fioor-at said opening andtapering down to a spout, and means for detachably securing the hopperto the car, substantially as described.

10. As an article of manufacture, the hopper formed to extend into andfit in a graincar opening, the ends of the hopper litting the sides ordoor-posts of said opening, the hopper from thence extending downwardlyand having a projection or flange engaging the car-floor, and detachablesecuring means,sub stantially as described.

11. As an article of manufacture, a detachable hopper for grain-carshaving the enlarged top open at the inner side and notched to receivethe car-door with a iiange to fit the caryiioor and provided with means,such as hooks,

provided with a sliding cut-off, and with exterior bag-supportin gmeans, substantially as described.

12. A vertically-movable grain-car door having the discharge-opening atits lower end provided with an outwardly-swinging hinged auxiliary d oorhaving regulating means passing centrally through the same,substantially as described.

13. A grain-door having the narrow discharge-opening at its bottom orlower end extending approximately the full width of the grain-door,whereby the grain in the car behind the door can be discharged and thepressure against the door relieved, an outwardlyswinging auxiliary doorhinged to swing into and close said opening, and screw-operatedregulating and fastening means for said door whereby the same can beheld at the desired angle and the stream of discharging grain easilycontrolled, said means, when the auxiliary door is closed, projectingbut a slight distance beyond the same so as not to interfere with theregular sliding car-door, subj stantially as described.

14. A vertically-movable grain-car door having the narrowdischarge-opening at its lower'portion approximately the full width ofthe door, said door being beveled down and out at the bottom. of theopening, the auxiliary door fitting in said opening with its lower edgebeveled and hinged at its upper edge to the grain-door to swingoutwardly, and regullating and fastening means for and passing throughsaid auxiliary door, whereby the stream of grain discharging throughsaid opening can be controlled in volume.

15. A vertically-movable grain-car door having the narrowdischarge-opening at its lower portion extending approximately the fullwidth of the door, the outwardly-swinging auxiliary door to close saidopening, whereby the grain behind the door can be discharged and thepressure thereof released from the door, and loose regulating andfastening means for said door extending to the front or outer facethereof and operative from such point, and normally projecting a slightdistance only beyond the same whereby the operator can control the angleof the door when open and thereby easily control the stream of grainpassing out under such auxiliary door, substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

16. A grain-car door having the long bottially embrace and hang from theedge of the car-floor at said opening, said hopper reduced down to asmall discharge end or openin g, substantially as described.

18. As an article of manufacture, a hopper formed to detachably t in andthe Width of the side opening of a grain-car and having the top and theside toward the car-opening open, the hopper tting the car-floor andhaving a reduced bottom discharge, and detachable securing means,substantially as described.

19. A grain-car door having a side opening, in combination With adetachable hopper for initial discharge of grain arranged vertically andhaving a large body fitting in and extending the Width of said openingand open toward the same, said hopper fitting and supported from thecar-floor, and detachable securing means.

20. The detachable hopper arranged to eX- tend up at and J't in the sideopening of a car and open at its inner side and formed with notches orrecesses to receive the edge of the car-door, substantially asdescribed.

2l. As an article of manufacture, the graincar hopper having the largebody having the bottom valved discharge, and open side With projectingends, and the securing means secured to the outer upper side of thehopper and arranged to extend across the top of the hopper to thecar-door, substantially' as described.

In vtestimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

SAMUEL L. TRUEBLO'OD.

